Stay for pneumatic mattresses, &amp;c.



Patented April 11, 1905.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

FRANK \VEBb, OF RFA DI NG, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAY FOR PNEUMATIC MATTRESSES, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,137, dated April 11, 1905.

Application filed $eptenilier 12, 1904. Serial No. 224,092.

To u/l out if 'IILIILZ/ (nu/(writ.-

Be it known that l, FRANK \Yuun, of lbQilLl ing, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stays for Pneumatic .\lattresses, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stays which are used to connect the opposite side pieces of pneumatic mattresses and other inl'latable sacks to limit the separation of said side pieces by the pressure of the air. Stays of this character usually embody a main or body portion which extends between the two side pieces and tlaps or cars at the ends of the body portion, said tlaps being suitably secured to the side pieces. To give the stays suitable flexibility, they are usually made of tlat strips of fabric, the end portions of which are cut lengthwise to form two tlaps or ears at each end of the stay, said tlaps being bent outwardly from opposite sides of the stay and secured to the side pieces of the mattress. l'leretofore tlat stays for this purpose have been lacking in strength and durability at the points where the flaps are bent outwardly from the body of the stay, the construction heretofore used having been such that there is liability of the tearing of the material of the stay at these points.

My invention has for its object to provide a tlat stay of textile fabric which shall be free from the objections above noted; and to this end the invention consists in the improvements which l will now proceed to describe and claim.

()f the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an edge view of a strip of textile fabric prepared for the manufacture of my improved stay. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a stay embodying my invention made from the strip shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3

re iresents a view similar to Fi 2 showin the central portion of the stay formed in two plies to increase its flexibility. Fig. l represents a sectional view showing oneof the end portions of the stay attached to one of the side pieces of a mattress.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In carrying out my invention I produce a strip of woven fabric which includes a series of body portions 1/ of maximum thickness and a series of intermediate portions which comprise two plies a, each of the same width as the body portion 1/ and of half its thickness. The said strip may be woven by any suitable means or processes known to those skilled in the art of weaving, the parts 1/ and a being integral with each other and provided with selvage edges, so that there are no raw edges or such edges as would be formed by cutting the fabric. The two-ply portions of the strip thus formed are severed on the lines 7) 1/, the operation of severing the strip converting the plies u :1" into cars adapted to be bent outwardly from the body a of the strip, as shown in Fig. 2, each car being of the same width as the body of the strip and of practically half its thickness. The stay thus formed may be attached to the side pieces I! of a mattress by inserting the strip through an orifice 1/, placing the ears 1/ upon the outer surface of the side piece 1/, and securing said ears in place by means of a covering-piece e, which is prepared to be secured to the flaps u and to the side piece 1/ by the vulcanization of rubber which is incorporated into said parts.

It will be seen that the flaps a are integral with the body 1/ and free from raw edges at the points where they join the body. The bases of the llaps are intimately united with the body of the strip by the weaving operation, so there is no possibility of the said bases being torn apart without breaking the threads of which the fabric is composed.

To increase the llcxibility of the stay, the central part of the body portion may be woven in two plies 1/ 11 as shown in Fig. 3.

I claiml. A stay for the purpose spccilied, comprising a strip of woven fabric divided at its end portions to form l'laps or flanges which are integral with the body of the strip and are of the same width as said body and of substam tially half its thickness, the said liaps being adapted to be bent outwardly from opposite sides of the body of the strip.

2. A stay for the purpose specified, connprising a strip of woven fabric divided at its end portions to form flaps or flanges which are integral with the body of the strip and are of the same width as said body and of substantiallyhalf its thickness, the said flaps being adapted to be bent outwardly from opposite sides of the body of the strip, said strip being I0 made in two parts or plies at an intermediate portion to increase the flexibility of the strip.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK XVEBB. WVitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, E. BATCHELDER. 

